Following the sudden death of R&B singer Gerald Levert last year, his old R&B group LeVert has found new life. The trio -- featuring Gerald's younger brother, Sean, and their friend Marc Gordon, both of whom are founding members -- is set to perform as part of the Thanksgiving Holiday Jam at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center.

Dwight Thompson, formerly of the Rude Boys, rounds out the new lineup. "This is something my brother would really want us to do," said Sean, 39. "We all love the music," he said. "We're doing it for the music."

Gerald died Nov. 10, 2006, of an accidental overdose of prescription and over-the-counter medications at his home in Newbury Township. He was 40.

As LeVert, the Levert brothers (whose father is Eddie Levert of the O'Jays) and Gordon broke out of Cleveland with a string of hits, including the 1987 Top 5 smash "Casanova." Gerald launched a solo career in 1991, although he continued to perform often with Sean and sporadically with Gordon.

A new LeVert album was in the works when Gerald died.

"We just never got a chance to finish it," Sean said.

Thompson is a "perfect" addition to the group, Sean said.

"He's a good singer and he can dance," he said.

With a laugh, he added: "The ladies seem to like him, too."

Sean, Gordon and Thompson already have tested the waters over the past few months with gigs in Miami, New Orleans and Atlanta. So far, so good.

"The audiences have been great," Sean said. "People like the LeVert sound. . . . I think we can keep it going and try to get some new material out soon."

The upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday Jam will mark the first local performance for the revamped LeVert. Also on the bill are Bobby Brown, Guy (featuring Aaron Hall) and Johnny Gill, who sang alongside Keith Sweat and Gerald in the supergroup LSG. The concert is sponsored by WZAK FM/93.1.

Tickets, $44.50-$50.50, are on sale online at Ticketmaster.com, at the Wolstein Center box office and Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone, 216-241-5555 (Cleveland) or 330-945-9400 (Akron). VIP tickets, $77, are being sold only at the box office, located at 2000 Prospect Ave., Cleveland.